Gable top container



United States Patent O 3,302,846 GABLE TOP CONTAINER Isaac L. Wilcox, Fulton, N.Y., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 455,777 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention has to ydo with containers formed of paperboard or the like and provided with a gable top closure structure. Containers of this type are used extensively for the packaging of liquid products such as milk. The top closure structure consists generally of opposed front and rear roof panels inclined to make the gable formation, and a pair of triangular-shaped end closure panels inclined upwardly between the front and rear roof panels. These end closure panels have integral fold-back panels that assume a position lying against the underside of the front and -rear roof panels. The foldback panels, and the front and rear roof panels, are formed with integral ridge panels, which get to be disposedv in vertical contacting relation and are joined together, usually, by some form of adhesive to form the ridge of the gable top.

When these closure panels are thus folded to closed position, the ridge panels, surmounting each pair of foldback panels, are bent on a score line located at the apex of the adjacent end closure panel. These fold or hinge joints, of the fold-back ridge panels, theoretically, meet at the center of the gable top ridge. However, in erecting the container from a flat blank, by folding the same on score lines to produce the side Wal-l panels, and the top closure panels, usually, the inner ridge panels of the ridge formation do not meet, or abut, at the center of the ridge, with the result that frequently the erected container will leak at the center of the ridge if it is tipped or inverted.

This invention has as an object a gable top container embodying a structural arrangement wherein the inner folds, or hinge joints, ofthe ridge panels, surmounting the fold-back panels, always engage or slightly overlap, Whereby when the ridge panels in the ridge structure are sealed together, there is no passage or interstice through which the contents of the container may pass, this result being obtained by a novel scoring arrangement of the paperboard blank from which the container is erected.

v The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the at blank from which the container is erected.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the gable top structure, with a portion of the rear roof wall removed and contiguous portion of the ridge panel surmounted the same.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the sealed ridge structure.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the blank from which the container is erecte-d is scored in the conventional manner as at 10, 11, 12, and 13 to form side wall panels 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. These scores extend vertically from the lower edge of the blank to the upper edge thereof. There is a horizontally or transversely extending score line spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the blank and intercepting the score lines -13. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, this transversely extending score line has portions 20 which are offset upwardly from the portions 21, however, this score -line may extend in the same plane throughout its entire length.

There is also a second transversely extending score line 22 spaced intermediate the top edge of the blank and the score line portions 2t), 21. The score line portion 20, in conjunction with the vertical score lines 11, 12, define a front side wall 17 and, in conjunction with the score lines 10, 13, define panels 15, 19, the free edges of which overlap to form, in the erected container, a rear side wall panel. The score -line portion 21, in conjunction with the vertical score lines 10 and 11, define anend Wall panel 16-and, in conjunction with the score lines 12 and 13, dene an opposed end Wall panel 18. With the scoring arrangement, shown in FIGURE 2, the panels 16, 17, and 18 and the rear wall panel formed by panels 15, 19 are all of equal width.

The portions of the score lines 11, 12 extending above the score line portion 20 `define a front roof panel'area immediately above the front side wall panel 17. Because the front roof panel of the container is manipulated, in the opening of the container, to forma pour spout, this front wall is formed with converging score lines 30, 31 and a vertical score line 32. These score lines dene front roof portions 33, 34, 35, 36'. The area .above the rear -side wall panels 15, 19, form the rear roof panel 37. The areas above the score line portions 21, above the end Wall panels 16, 18, are provided with converging score lines 38, 39, which intercept the sco-re line 22 medial of the upper portions of the vertical score lines 10,` 11 and 12, 13. These converging score lines define triangular-shaped end panels 40, to the sides of which are hingedly connected `triangular-shaped fold-back panels 411, 42.

. The main function of the transversely extending score line 22 is to define ridge panels surmounting the front and rear roof panels and the fold-back panels 41, 42. The ridge panel surmounting the front roof panel is indicated at 43, and the ridge panel surmounting' the rear roof panel 37 is indicated at `45. Inasmuch as the container is formed from an integral, one-piece blank, `the ridge panels are all connected together, and those above the end panels 40 `are divided into .a section 49 surmounting the fold-back panels 41, 'and a section 50 surmounting the fold-back panels 42, these ridge panels 49, 50 being hingedly connected together at the score lines 51, which extend upwardly from the apexes of the end panels 40..

The general arrangement of the scoring described is of conventional form. The important `feature Vof this invention results from .a novel modification of the upper por'- tions of the vertical score lines 10-13, which results inthe ridge panel sections 49, 50 each'having .a length exceeding one half -of the length of the ridge panels 43, 45 surmounting the front and rear roof closure panels.

The upper portions 61, 62, of the scores 11, 12, are of extended width and in a direction toward the center of the front roof panel above the score line 20. Also, the -upper portions 60, 63, of the Ascore lines 10, 13, are of extended width in a direction toward the center of the rear roof panel 37.

When the blank, FIGURE 2, is folded on the score lines 10413 about the square mandrel of the container erecting machine, this results in all of the closure panels above the score line portions 20, 21 being of equal length, in a direction transversely of the container. When the top closure panels are folded inwardly, the wider scoring at 60-63 provided extra material for the panels 41, 42, and the ridge panel sections 49, 5t)` surmounting the fold- `back panels 41, 42, whereby these ridge panel sections 49, 50 have a greater combined length than the ridge panels 43, 45 surmounting the front and rear roof panels. This, in turn, results in the hinge joints on score lines 51 abutting, or slightly overlapping, at the center of the ridge structure in the erected containers, as at 70, FIGURES 3 and 4.

All of the ridge panels 43, 45, 49 and 50 are sealed and bonded together by adhesive, at least in the central area of the ridge structure, and in the container disclosed, they are so bonded together throughout their entire contacting surfaces, that is, throughout their entire lengths. Preferably, the blank shown in FIGURE 2, is formed of paperboard and has bonded to both sides thereof, a coating of thermoplastic material which serves, Iby the `application of heat and pressure, to provide the adhesive means dor permanently bonding the ridge panels together.

In containers yof this type employing conventional scoring with the vertical score lines -13 being of uniform width throughout their length, the ridge panels surmounting the `front and rear roof panels, and sunmounting the end panels are all lof equal length, and in manipulating these panels to lfolded, closed position, the hinge joint between the ridge panel sections, surmounting the foldback panels, fail to meet or abut at the center of the ridge structure and, accordingly, there is a space between the inner ifolded ends of the inner ridge panels surmounting the fold-back panels and, this spacing has a dimension transversely yof the ridge .structure equivalent to double the thickness of' the blank due to the folded inner ridge panels, whereby there is, accordingly, -a small aperture for the escape of liquid contents from the container.

However, with the arrangement above described, wherein the folded ends of the inner ridge panels abut 4or overlap, such a leak passage is entirely avoided.

It will be apparent that .this improvement is obtained simply by the lmodiiication of the vertical .scoring in the areas 60-63, which obviously results in no increase in the cost `of producing the blank, and also no change :or moditcation in the container erecting equipment. It also results in maintaining the square form of the container body avoiding any changes in the equipment =for handling and casing the lled containers.

What I claim is:

1. A igable top container of sheet 'material comprising a tubular body having our side walls -of equal width, a bottom closure tixed to said body, a pair of yopposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlying the top of the body, a pair of opposed triangular end closure panels infolded between said roof panels `from the opposite gable ends formed by the latter, and with their apexes located at the central area of the gable, `first and second pairs of triangular fold-back panels, each pair of triangular fold-back panels being joined to the `opposite .sides of a respective yone of said triangular end closure panels along -fold' lines which are in proximity with said roof panels, said fold-back panels being folded against the underside of said r-oof panels, a 4rid-ge panel sunmounting each of said roof panels, a ridge panel surmounting each of said fold-back panels, each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair of ktold-back panels being hinged together at the apex of the respective contiguous end closure panel and being folded about said hinge, in face-to-face relation, between the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels, the length of each of said rid-ge panels surmounting each of said `fold-back panels being in excess of one half the length of the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels.

Z. A paperboard blank for fonming a container of rectangular Iformation and having a gable top, said blank being formed with laterally spaced-apart score lines extending vertically from the lower to the upper edge lof the blank, a score line extending transversely of the blank in downward spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, said latter score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, `deiining -opposed front and rear side wall panels and opposed end wall panels, a second transversely extending score line arranged intermediate the upper edge of said blank and said tirst transversely extending score line and defining, in conjunction therewith, and with said vertically extending score lines, a front roof panel surmounting said front side wall panel, a -rear roo-f panel surmounting said rear side wall panel, and an area surmounting each :of said end wall panels, each of said areas being provided with converging score lines inclining upwardly from said lirst transverse score line to said second transverse score line, and defining in each of said areas, a triangular end closure panel and a pair of triangular fold-back panels hinged to the end closure panel, said second transversely extending score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, dening ridge panels surmounting said front and rear roof panels, and each pair of said fold-back panels, said vertical score lines defining said yfront and rear noof panels being Aof extended width above said first transverse score line in a direction toward the center of said front and rear roof panels, wherein the ridge panels, surmounting said ffront and rear roof panels, are of ya length shorter than the ridge panels surmounting each of said pair of fold-back panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,862 1l/1944 Sidebotham 229-l76 X 2,687,840 8/1954 `Innes 229-176 X 3,204,850 9/1965 Wilcox 229-176 X 3,245,603 4/1966 Wilcox 229--176 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A GABLE TOP CONTAINER OF SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY HAVING FOUR SIDE WALLS OF EQUAL WIDTH, A BOTTOM CLOSURE FIXED TO SAID BODY, A PAIR OF OPPOSED ROOF PANELS INCLINING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND OVERLYING THE TOP OF THE BODY, A PAIR OF OPPOSED TRIANGULAR END CLOSURE PANELS INFOLDED BETWEEN SAID ROOF PANELS FROM THE OPPOSITE GABLE ENDS FORMED BY THE LATTER, AND WITH THEIR APEXES LOCATED AT THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE GABLE, FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF TRIANGULAR FOLD-BACK PANELS, EACH PAIR OF TRIANGULAR FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING JOINED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TRIANGULAR END CLOSURE PANELS ALONG FOLD LINES WHICH ARE IN PROXIMITY WITH SAID ROOF PANELS, SAID FOLD-BACK PANELS, A RIDGE PANEL SURMOUNTING EACH OF OF SAID ROOF PANELS, A RIDGE PANEL SURMOUNTING EACH OF SAID ROOF PANELS, A RIDGE PANEL SURMOUNTING EACH OF SAID FOLD-BACK PANELS, EACH PAIR OF RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING A PAIR OF FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING HINGED TOGETHER AT THE APEX OF THE RESPECTIVE CONTIGUOUS END CLOSURE PANEL AND BEING FOLDED ABOUT SAID HINGE, IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATION, BETWEEN 